City council approves interlocal that keeps Monroe County and Ellettsville tied to Bloomington animal shelter; county to pay $433,122.80

The Bloomington Common Council on Dec. 4 adopted an interlocal agreement that continues shared animal-sheltering services among the city, Monroe County and the town of Ellettsville for fiscal year 2025.

"This agreement will allow us to continue consistent and compassionate care for all stray and unwanted animals in our county," said Virgil Satter, director of Animal Care and Control, during a presentation to the council. Satter said the 2025 reimbursement total calculated under the agreement is $456,281.10; Monroe County’s portion is $433,122.80 and Ellettsville’s portion is $23,158.30.

Satter described the formula the city used: shelter operations expenditures (from 2023) are reduced by adoption revenue for that year and divided by the total animals brought in during the year to produce a cost-per-animal amount; that per-animal figure is applied to each partner’s intake to determine payment. He also noted staff raised the percentage of the budget counted as shelter operations from 56% in prior years to 65% because sheltering costs have risen faster than other program costs.

Council members pressed staff on sustainability and on which costs are included. "What is considered shelter operations?" one council member asked, noting medical costs were rising faster than other line items. Satter said the formula uses prior-year actual expenditures and that the parties had been warned the percentage might need to increase again next year.

Council members also asked about out-of-county intake and euthanasia rates. Satter said roughly 12–13% of annual intake comes from outside Monroe County and that the shelter's euthanasia rate has ranged between about 4% and 6% in recent years.

Corporation counsel and city legal staff described the agreement's administration: a joint board of representatives would convene as needed to satisfy statutory requirements. Payments to the city are made semiannually upon submission of a claim; the controller sends two notices each year and the county and town pay half the amount each time.

Council voted to adopt Resolution 2024-26 by roll call; the clerk recorded an 8–0 vote in favor.

The agreement will be executed by the mayor and the director of Animal Care and Control and will use 2023 data to determine the 2025 reimbursements, per the formula described at the meeting.

Next steps: none beyond contract execution and semiannual billing under the terms outlined during the meeting.